Beating the Fascists: The authorised history of Anti-Fascist Action

[malatesta32]

I'll try and get back to you over the weekend when I've collected my own personal thoughts and recollections on this. Hopefully it'll be of some use to you.

I'm pretty sure I gave Mal some stuff covering the same thing but it's still a worthwhile issue to cover again.

yes you did. i have it saved somewhere but im at the butt n ben so cannae get access to it!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._near_Lochhill_-_geograph.org.uk_-_269792.jpg

 

[intersol32]

Is childhoods end available online anywhere?

It's unlikely. I've trawled around for it a bit, as it was written sort of '91-'92 it's possible it was only ever presented in hard copy.

I don't think it was distributed as an official CW paper either. As I remember it coming from a couple of individual members and just handed around.

 

[Red Storm]

It's unlikely. I've trawled around for it a bit, as it was written sort of '91-'92 it's possible it was only ever presented in hard copy.

I don't think it was distributed as an official CW paper either. As I remember it coming from a couple of individual members and just handed around.

Only reference online I can find is:

IWCA

As the rest of the Left prove that change for them means no change at all, we should at least consider those who are presenting something a little different. One organisation worthy of note is the recently formed Independent Working Class Association, which came into existence in October 1995, with invites going out to all left groups to attend initial meetings. The IWCA's Declaration of Independence espouses sound, down-to-earth ideas on political organisation, it emphasises community and working class involvement and stresses the need for a radical alternative to Labour. The basic principle behind the IWCA was not what the working class can do for the IWCA, but what the working class can do for itself: this notion that ideas do not have to be given to people ready-packed in an ideology is itself a refreshing and positive step.
With its aim of working class power in working class areas, the IWCA's politics on the surface seem to fit in well with Class War's, and appear to have been taken in part from our own 1993 political statement Childhood's End. But Class War's response has been mixed - some groups and individuals did attend the initial meetings, while others didn't. Over the years we'd seen several unlikely alliances come and go on the left, and there seemed no guarantee that this one would be any different - especially since its main sponsor was Red Action.

Our attitude to Red Action has been made clear above, so we won't repeat ourselves here. Red Action had treated the anarchist movement with contempt for many years, so it seemed at best ironic (and at worst cynical and manipulative) that they seemed to be 'targeting' anarchist groups for involvement in the IWCA.
There has also been unease over Red Action using their dominant position within Anti-Fascist Action (AFA) to push the IWCA strongly upon AFA - particularly after years of Red Action opposing any broadening of AFA's limited brief. The danger is that if the IWCA splinters, then AFA's effectiveness could be compromised. In fact suspicions about the IWCA's independence and Red Action's agenda have already meant that some left and anarchist groups have withdrawn.
Were the cynics right? Well, not exactly. Various IWCA projects are up and running: in Newtown in Birmingham, for example, the anti-mugging initiative set up by the IWCA has formed the basis for a residents' association which is anti-police and anti-council, and is led by neither Red Action nor the IWCA. This is exactly the push for working class power that local Class War groups have been promoting for years. Perhaps the IWCA can evolve into a truly independent group that will enable working class militants to work together. Only time will tell.

Source

 

[Red Storm]

Is it's full name: Childhood's End: A review of "Escaping From Childishness: The Need For a Conserver Party" by Robert Johnston?

 

[Joe Reilly]

Some years ago (before Reilly's era) I was active in Bradford, so the post above don't quite fit with my personal recollections of the individual mentioned. Therefore, I think it highly unlikely this person would involve himself in some of what's been posted here? Admittedly, some of the period spoken about I had by then moved away to find work, nevertheless, and to be specific, I'm prepared to consider my view of said person if there is any evidence presented of him 'conspiring to "provoke" in the "corridor"', as explicitly expressed? I do realise, this being an apparent "conspiracy", that any forth-coming evidence is remote.

So you think it unlikely 'this person would conspire to provoke in the corridor'.
Do you also think it unlikely that 'this person' colluded with others to change AFA into AntiRacist AntiFascist Action?
That as chair of the 1987 AFA conference he was involved in a ridiculous attempted rigging of the vote? That having lost the said vote [eventually eg 2out 3] he laid charges against [unidentified] Red Action members of making racist remarks?
That he organised a meeting to which RA [and a host of other branches were not invited] in order to facilitate RA's suspension?
That he canvassed by letter and phone for support for RA's expulsion.
That he lied about this in the subsequent inquiry?
That he was denounced as a liar and a drunk at said inquiry by the chair, LF from the Institute of Race Relations, who read from one of his letters at the meeting?
That the charges against RA were proven to be without foundation (as was the case with not dissimilar charges against CW the previous year)?
That it was he and his fellow conspirators [Islington ARAFA. Hull etc,] and - not RA - that left AFA?

So if as you say you find it impossible to believe in 'some of what's been posted on here', treat the list as a pick and mix and simply tick the aspects it is concievable he just might have engaged in.

Or when it comes down to it is it that you find it more politically congenial to believe that RA did actually attack members of Bradford Asian Youth Movement as 'Bob fron Brockley' states and that your old pal Jeff was therefore right all along ?

 

[intersol32]

Is it's full name: Childhood's End: A review of "Escaping From Childishness: The Need For a Conserver Party" by Robert Johnston?

No. That's something different entirely. Although I'm not surprised that others have written articles with the same title ("Childhood's End" being a popular Science Fiction novel to boot).

 

[intersol32]

Only reference online I can find is:





Source

This was the Class War "State of the Left in 1997" document written much later. It does mention Childhood's End at the beginning, but other than that it's not as well written and basically comprises of a slag-off of every other British leftie group at that time. The Red Action section is particularly bizarre and repeats the kind of anecdotal hearsay bollocks that was always doing the rounds in various Anarchist circles.

 

[Joe Reilly]

The Red Action section is particularly bizarre and repeats the kind of anecdotal hearsay bollocks that was always doing the rounds in various Anarchist circles.

Of course Red Action had differences with anarchist groups over the years, but probably no different to the disputes between anarchists in terms of intensity, and also posed questions against anarchism as a philosophy and as implemented historically, but applied the same amount of rigour to Marxist-Leninism. And in spite pf working with DAM formally and informally from the early 1980's and suspending itself from AFA after the real anti-anarchist witch hunt against Class War, led by Gerry Gable, the rumour persisted that RA remained uniquely anti-anarchist.

Given the carefully orchesterated hysteria against the planned publication of BTF by anarchist publisher Freedom Press, that led to tremendous pressure from without and it must be said within the collective, it says everything that the publishers still decided to launch BTF at the Anarchist Bookfair.
Particulalry as one BTF opponent had put it colourfully - 'bring your stab-vests'.

So on the day there was naturally enough, after all the fanfair - uproar? No so much. In total there were according to the FP bookstall - a total of two complaints. One from an anarchist with according to an FP seller, a history of mental health problems, and the other from - Lousie Purbick editor of No Retreat, and co-author of Physical Resistance. Who turned on the waterworks. Again.

It should also be remembered that the the most virulent opposition in the discussion about the RA/London AFA proposals in the mid-1990's ,was led not by anarchists, as some posters mistakenly repeat on here, but by Searchlight operatives, some of whom went so far as to pose as anarchists, (until unmasked) in order to further fan the flames. On the Indymedia thread the 'unmaskers' were tabbed 'bad anarchists' by one presumes the unmasked - the very people who had stitched up CW in order to cleanse anti-fascism of all and any anarchist influence.

So given the almost entirely artifical nature of the supposed Anarchist v RA 30 year conflict, and what has recently been confirmed about state infiltration into far less committed groups than AFA, it rather make you wonder about the pension pots of the more committted anti-RA haters doesn't it.

 

[bignose1]

Of course Red Action had differences with anarchist groups over the years, but probably no different to the disputes between anarchists in terms of intensity, and also posed questions against anarchism as a philosophy and as implemented historically, but applied the same amount of rigour to Marxist-Leninism. And in spite pf working with DAM formally and informally from the early 1980's and suspending itself from AFA after the real anti-anarchist witch hunt against Class War, led by Gerry Gable, the rumour persisted that RA remained uniquely anti-anarchist.

Given the carefully orchesterated hysteria against the planned publication of BTF by anarchist publisher Freedom Press, that led to tremendous pressure from without and it must be said within the collective, it says everything that the publishers still decided to launch BTF at the Anarchist Bookfair.
Particulalry as one BTF opponent had put it colourfully - 'bring your stab-vests'.

So on the day there was naturally enough, after all the fanfair - uproar? No so much. In total there were according to the FP bookstall - a total of two complaints. One from an anarchist with according to an FP seller, a history of mental health problems, and the other from - Lousie Purbick editor of No Retreat, and co-author of Physical Resistance. Who turned on the waterworks. Again.

It should also be remembered that the the most virulent opposition in the discussion about the RA/London AFA proposals in the mid-1990's ,was led not by anarchists, as some posters mistakenly repeat on here, but by Searchlight operatives, some of whom went so far as to pose as anarchists, (until unmasked) in order to further fan the flames. On the Indymedia thread the 'unmaskers' were tabbed 'bad anarchists' by one presumes the unmasked - the very people who had stitched up CW in order to cleanse anti-fascism of all and any anarchist influence.

So given the almost entirely artifical nature of the supposed Anarchist v RA 30 year conflict, and what has recently been confirmed about state infiltration into far less committed groups than AFA, it rather make you wonder about the pension pots of the more committted anti-RA haters doesn't it.

Wanker

 

[past caring]

Wanker

This is about your level when faced with some content that requires actual political engagement.

Speaks volumes.

 

[audiotech]

So you think it unlikely 'this person would conspire to provoke in the corridor'.
Do you also think it unlikely that 'this person' colluded with others to change AFA into AntiRacist AntiFascist Action?
That as chair of the 1987 AFA conference he was involved in a ridiculous attempted rigging of the vote? That having lost the said vote [eventually eg 2out 3] he laid charges against [unidentified] Red Action members of making racist remarks?
That he organised a meeting to which RA [and a host of other branches were not invited] in order to facilitate RA's suspension?
That he canvassed by letter and phone for support for RA's expulsion.
That he lied about this in the subsequent inquiry?
That he was denounced as a liar and a drunk at said inquiry by the chair, LF from the Institute of Race Relations, who read from one of his letters at the meeting?
That the charges against RA were proven to be without foundation (as was the case with not dissimilar charges against CW the previous year)?
That it was he and his fellow conspirators [Islington ARAFA. Hull etc,] and - not RA - that left AFA?

So if as you say you find it impossible to believe in 'some of what's been posted on here', treat the list as a pick and mix and simply tick the aspects it is concievable he just might have engaged in.

Or when it comes down to it is it that you find it more politically congenial to believe that RA did actually attack members of Bradford Asian Youth Movement as 'Bob fron Brockley' states and that your old pal Jeff was therefore right all along ?

Not an "old pal" as it happens and as I thought no evidence forth-coming for the claim of a 'conspiracy to provoke in the corridor'. As for the rest? Pretty damming. If true of course? Wonder what version I'd get from the other party named in this catalogue of assertions?

 

[LiamO]

Wonder what version I'd get from the other party named in this catalogue of assertions?

I'll tell you two things for free.

1. Liz Fekete had many an issue with Red Action. She never let that stop her being a principled anti-Fascist. She was/is straight as a die. Why don't you get in touch with her and ask her what happened?

2. Apart from the fact that Joe is also dead straight... do you really think that he would post up something that could leave him open to ridicule?

Shame you did not think the same way before posting your challenge to the veracity of his comments. Do hurry back with your findings.

BTW. I wasn't in Bradford for this event but I do remember well the first-hand accounts of what happened... and the ripple-out.

 

[audiotech]

Alright, let's say I do accept the version of events as is (this usually with a lower degree of evidence to back up their claims than anyone else posting on this forum), what of it after how many years is it now? Why the raking-up of this stuff over and over, what purpose does it achieve, particularly with regard to an organisation that no longer exists? To be blunt, it strikes me of someone continually stroking their ego.

 

[LiamO]

blah blah... Why the raking-up of this stuff over and over

What a stupid question. You can't see what prompted it? read the fuckin thread

...and besides, there are perfectly legitimate (and more to the point current) political reasons for refusing to let gobshites like Robinson re-write history.

 

[audiotech]

Is Robinson writing anything? I could understand if he was here posting another version of history? As far as I'm aware he ain't?

Edit: OK, someone called 'Rance'? Not clear who this is, could be anyone?

 

[past caring]

'If I could find a white man who had the nigger sound and the nigger feel, I could make a billion dollars.'

Albert Goldman is no longer around to perpetuate that particular lie (Sam Philips, according to Marion Keisker, never used the word 'nigger' in his life) but it doesn't stop people continuing to believe it.

 

[audiotech]

dp

 

[bignose1]

This is about your level when faced with some content that requires actual political engagement.

Speaks volumes.

You pal miss the point everytime....I choose not to engage with this person on a political level as his contemptous vitriolic attacks make it futile. Just because he fannies up what he says/believes doesnt make a one word reply redundant.Read what he says ...and get off your fucking knees ....your sycophancy is truly pathetic .

 

[bignose1]

Ok...whats so sophisticated in calling LP 'No Retreat' editor...(wasnt it Nick Lowles...oh the Searchlight spoiler) and why cheap shot DH's new book as co written by LP...pathetic...why not engage politically you ask? And the putting on the waterworks at the book fair...its cheap pal but it doesnt suprise me. I bet you never complained about the dirty snide disgusting personal attacks on me and Dave and others circa 2003 on the RA forum. Fucking quality debate mate. Speaks volumes.

 

[butchersapron]

Just passing it on:

Book Launch – Physical Resistance: A Hundred Year’s of Anti-Fascism by Dave Hann

Date: Thursday 31st January, 2013
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Venue: The Hydra Bookshop
Price: Donation

(Atzmon is published by Zero too)

 

[Deareg]

http://www.zero-books.net/books/physical-resistance

 

[TopCat]

What's with the Red and Black cover eh?

 

[butchersapron]

btw, i think LP is doing the talk, can't confirm, maybe framed will be able to later.

 

[Joe Reilly]

This is about your level when faced with some content that requires actual political engagement.

Speaks volumes.

Not unlike a certain Mr Armstrong he marches to his own drummer.

 

[Joe Reilly]

Not an "old pal" as it happens and as I thought no evidence forth-coming for the claim of a 'conspiracy to provoke in the corridor'. As for the rest? Pretty damming. If true of course? Wonder what version I'd get from the other party named in this catalogue of assertions?

Not 'old pal' then? So what prompted you to offer a character reference to someone you didn't know all that well more than 30 years ago, in relation to an event you claim not to know nothing about?

 

[krink]

I have a copy of No Retreat that is going in my cull of books. If anyone wants it PM me or it'll be in the Oxfam box in a week or two.

ta very much chilango, arrived on Saturday. It's a good read for most of it and good pics too (though not enough). cheers mate.

 

[DaveCinzano]

btw, i think LP is doing the talk, can't confirm, maybe framed will be able to later.

For a minute there I thought you were suggesting Laurie Penny might be gracing Bristol with her imperial presence

 

[butchersapron]

For a minute there I thought you were suggesting Laurie Penny might be gracing Bristol with her imperial presence

That would have made what i already expect to be a very lively meeting that much more lively...

 

[DaveCinzano]

That would have made what i already expect to be a very lively meeting that much more lively...

Will Hydra be firing up a popcorn machine for the evening?

 

[audiotech]

Not 'old pal' then? So what prompted you to offer a character reference to someone you didn't know all that well more than 30 years ago, in relation to an event you claim not to know nothing about?

I gave my reasons in the initial post I made on this subject.